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The mother of famed singer Sean Kingston is pleading with a federal judge for leniency ahead of her August 28 sentencing, hoping to soften the inevitable life-altering blow: not just prison, but permanent separation from her family.
62-year-old Janice Turner was convicted back in March of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud—charges that carry up to 20 years apiece. Prosecutors say she was the mastermind behind a million-dollar scam that used fake wire transfers—and her son’s celebrity clout—to finesse luxury retailers out of cars, jewelry, and high-end electronics.
Court transcripts show the judge in her trial dubbed Turner the “nerve center” of the operation. She admitted to creating fake wire confirmations and misleading businesses to release goods without upfront payment. Sean Kingston never testified in her trial, and both were eventually found guilty.
Now, Turner is asking for a sentence of no more than 30 months, pointing to her age, failing health, and clean prior record. Her attorneys argue that she never personally profited from the fraud, and that a lighter sentence would still serve as a deterrent. “She’s not a threat to society,” they’re essentially saying—just someone who made a very costly mistake.
But the biggest legal KO is set to come after her time is served. Turner, who was born in Jamaica, is expected to be deported once her sentence ends, losing her U.S. residency and, by her legal team’s account, facing “permanent separation from her family.”
To soften that, her attorneys have requested she serve her time in a federal facility close to Miami. The nearest option is almost 500 miles away in Tallahassee.
Supporters submitted letters describing Turner as a generous, family-first woman who time and time again has supported her community. Her legal team is hoping that picture—and the fact that she didn’t personally reap major rewards—will influence the judge’s decision.
Still, with sentencing day fast approaching and deportation looming on the other side, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the woman behind one of hip-hop’s most recognizable names.
